Emily+-+Lisa

Emily, This Thursday (Dec. 4) we will spend time in class writing more and would love to have your class respond. I realize some of your students probably don't really want to do this. That's fine, we can switch around the partnerships. Please let me know which students don't want to participate and I'll rearrange the partnerships. We even have a different school (Haihe in Tianjin) who would like to interact with us so if several of your students are too busy, no worries we can add some from a different school. I don't want your students to have any more pressure than they already have. However, your students are our first choice to communicate with. That said, I understand that college in Beijing, China is much harder than high school in Littleton, American. Thanks! Lisa

Please tell your students that they are free to ask questions. Let's have this be a wide-open conversation! Your friend, Lisa Hi, Lisa, Your first thoughts are quite okey with us. It's good to write about the school experience that both your and my students had in different educational system. Of course, they are also free to write about other things when they finish the required assignments. If you would like to expand the connection, I could invite other students either in English Department or other departments to join us. I noticed that there was not a question in week 2 and week 4, does it mean that BUCM students should raise questions? I meet 22 students regularly and the class monior Cheryl helped me to inform the other 22 students. So I'll make sure of the number of students who really want to join us. Emily (Dec. 8, 2008)
 * Emily, I thought we could have our own conversation to decide how to proceed with these friendships. My first thoughts are to have periodic assignments for the students (write about a memory of when they were 5 years old or younger, then write about their elementary school in their country and add a memory from their elementary school years, then write about middle school in their country and a personal memory of those years, then write about high school and a personal memory. We could end up with writing about their hopes for their future and even their countries' future. If we deicde to do this, I will have my students do a compare and contrast essay identifying ways we as Americans can learn from you in China. Although I have this as an outline, I want you to be a vital part of this exchange. Just let me know your ideas and we can add, modify simplify, whatever works. I just want this to be a beginning of deeper friendships. Thanks! Lisa

Hi Emily, Your students are so dear. Our wikispace was down yesterday, and we had planned to write to you all. Perhaps we will be able to tomorrow. After tomorrow, we have finals and then Winter break. It's Christmas time. I think I will have the students write a little about their Christmases for you after we return on Jan 6, and perhaps your students could write about Chinese New Year for us. Thanks for helping out on this! Each one of my students who has had a Chinese friend has felt really excited about it. Lisa Merry Christmas, Emily and all the BUCM students. We will be out for Christmas break, but will return on Jan. 6. I will have the students write their next story about their life in elementary school. My students love reading about your students. Thanks so much for the cooperation we're receiving. Lisa || Hi, Lisa, Thanks for your great efforts in setting up this connection between the two schools. Honest, it's the second time for me to key in texts directly on a webpage. The first time is when I was in the Melb Uni and I had to write in response to a class forum. I undertand how much it takes to run such a page. My students and I really appreciate what you''ve done.

Yes, I think it is a good idea to write about their experience on education through elementary to high school and then to project their future. Good idea. A final essay of doing comparison and contrast is the finished product. I'll push them to cooperate. Let's keep our fingers crossed. Emily || Hi, Lisa, In September of 2009, I met a group of 19 students (6 boys and 13 girls) majoring in Acupuncture and Moxibustion. They were admitted to this 7-year program due to their excellent performances in the national examination. They are indeed excellent, lovely and enthusiastic. I'll come to know them better with the time passing by. (See the picture at the top). Emily